Here’s a quick exercise for you.
Partner up with someone, a friend or a colleague. You are both going to tell a real story and read each other’s mind! The story is simply a short 60-90 second story on how you arrived here today, your journey.
When telling your story I want you to pick a playing card in your mind without telling your partner what the card is. You both do this.
Next I want you to tell your story in the style of that playing card, Ace is high and is positive, upbeat, confident, etc., 2 is downbeat, low, uncertain. All others playing cards are somewhere in between with the appropriate styles. Now tell you story in the style of the playing card you chose. All your partner needs to do is guess what playing card you have in mind. Once you’ve done this one way, switch over and let your partner tell their story while you guess their card.
How did you do? Did you guess their card or at least guess just one card out? Easy isn’t it.
Easy to guess the card and read other peoples state and even easier to choose your state at will. In fact you were so good at choosing your state your partner guessed it within 60 seconds.
As you prepare for next week take time to consider the optimum state you want to be in the key meetings, projects, conversations, emails, commute, etc. next week. Which playing card do you want to act out for each of these? Once you have it, do it.
